Bougainvillea x hybrida Mini Thaï

Bougainvillea Mini Thai is a unique variety among Bougainvilleas, with a bushy habit instead of climbing. Far from the exuberance of other varieties, this one stands out with slow growth, reduced internodes, and a compact habit. Its upright and rigid branches are devoid of thorns, as they don't need to climb for support. 'Mini Thai' forms a bush as wide as it is tall, with branches bearing elongated leaves that are narrower than those of other varieties. The flowering is equally beautiful, consisting of tightly packed bright pink flowers along the branches. Frost-sensitive, it should be grown in a pot and protected during winter.

Bougainvillea belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family, just like Mirabilis jalapa. The genus comprises 14 species native to South America, in subtropical and tropical climates. They are climbing plants with long stems armed with strong thorns that help them reach heights of several metres.
'Mini Thai' has a very different morphology. This horticultural variety of uncertain origin is dwarf in comparison to these powerful climbers, as it forms a low bush about 1 to 1.20 meters (3 to 4 feet) high, reaching a maximum of 1.50 meters (5 feet) in mature specimens. Its upright habit is very recognizable, with stiff branches that rise vertically and then curve slightly outward, forming a well-filled 'goblet' that is often as wide as it is tall.
With much slower growth than other varieties of Bougainvilleas, 'Mini Thai' is well-suited for pot cultivation and creating pseudo-bonsai. The internodes are very short, and the leaves are smaller, relatively narrow, and very pointed. The branches thus have a particular, highly decorative pattern.
The flowers are also smaller, 2 to 3 cm (1in) in size, and are tightly packed and interspersed between the leaves, creating a unique aesthetic. In reality, it is the bracts that are admired in these plants, bright pink in Mini Thai. The true flowers are tubular, located at the centre of the bracts, and relatively inconspicuous, except that their tips open up into a white trumpet, creating a beautiful contrast with the pink bracts. The flowering lasts for almost half the year, from spring to autumn, making this Bougainvillea one of the best flowering plants for the garden, and patios as potted plants.
It thrives in full sun and tolerates drought fairly well, which enhances its flowering. It is a low-maintenance plant, growing in most non-calcareous soils, as long as they are well-drained, especially in winter, to avoid exacerbating the effects of frost. Cold is indeed the weak point of this variety, which can only survive in the open ground in the most favourable microclimates. Frost quickly damages the foliage, which turns brown at -2°C (28.4°F), then falls off as the tips of the branches freeze, followed by the entire plant at around -5°C (23°F). Fortunately, pot cultivation is very easy due to its slow growth and tolerance to pruning, allowing for easy control of its size and the ability to bring it indoors, into a not-too-warm and well-lit room, during winter.

Bougainvillea Mini Thai is a gem. Simply bring it indoors before the first frost to enjoy its magnificent and delightfully exotic flowering throughout the season. To create a scene on your patio, accompany it with other frost-tender plants such as Solanum rantonetti, which is covered with small blue-violet flowers with yellow centers from summer until the first frost. Many Mediterranean perennials also make beautiful potted plants, such as Euryops pectinatus, a ball of grey-green foliage adorned with yellow daisy-like flowers throughout the season.